A bike dedicated by a friend of 17-year-old Toby Hearne, who died after being hit by a car just before Christmas, has been sent to Africa by a Mal-mesbury cycle charity.

The words “Take everything as it comes; sometimes things go my way, sometimes they don’t. Love music. Love sport. Love Life”, which Toby had once quoted to a friend, were inscribed on the bike.

The gesture was made by 22-year-old Ben Swettenham in memory of his friend and neighbour whom he had known for eight years.

Toby, a popular rugby player who attended Chippenham’s Sheldon School, died on December 22 after he was hit by a car driven by another teenager after leaving a fancy dress party, in Stanton St Quintin.

Mr Swettenham, the son of David Swettenham, who is director of the Jole Rider charity through which the bike was sent to Africa as part of their ongoing work, said: “It just seemed the right thing to do. I know the family and I thought it would continue Toby’s life in some sort of way, his memory.”

The donation was just one of a cargo load making up the 28th container of goods sent by the Hullavington-based charity to families and schools in deprived areas in Africa.

Among the load was furniture donated by Hullavington Primary School for a Gambian school, which they volunteered after replacing their old desks, chairs and book shelves.

Teachers from the school took 44 students up to the charity’s hangar to hear how their donation will benefit children in Africa.

Charity director Mr Swettenham said: “The furniture came out of their own classrooms.

“They wanted to know it would be going to a good home, and the attitude was that it would be scrapped and end up in landfill otherwise.

“We invited the students up and explained to them about what Jole Rider does in Africa in terms of education.”

As well as the furniture, Queen’s Crescent Primary School, Chippenham, handed over 400 quality children’s books donated by pupils.

Mr Swettenham said: “The truth is that what we are doing by sending these different resources out is making a very definite and lasting impact upon the education in Gambia.

“We have all contributed to changing the lives of a serious number of people.”

For more information about the charity, visit http://jolerider.org